I didn't meet anyone for over a year after I joined. That's why I never really got into Aus Social at first... it seemed everyone had a little clique and I couldn't work out how to squeeze my way into one. But I had the mother of all initiations when we decided - on the spur of the moment and at Psychokitten's urging - to go to a certain beach party a couple of years ago. It was quite a brave endeavour, an almost 2-hour trip in the car, and it felt weird as fuck to be going to meet people who I'd only ever chatted to online, and who my boyfriend didn't know at *all*.
And it WAS awkward at first. Psychokitten was strange and aloof, and nobody else really clicked with us... except Mean Girl and nickthecheese... but then we all started to loosen up and it opened up a whole new world. We met two pretty amazing bluelighters there that night who we continued a friendship with back in Melbourn. And after our meetup cherry had been popped, it wasn't so scary anymore to go to these things.
Actually I lie: it's always kind of scary. It's a weird thing, I won't lie to you. It's not as comfortable as going to meet your friends up at the local pub. BUT I've never been disappointed. These are real people and even if you don't have the most *amazing* night of your life you can be certain of one thing - that you'll come away having had new experiences and widened your social circle just that little bit, and occasionally.. just occasionally... you meet someone REALLY special.
Be brave - bluelighters, if nothing else, are always pretty welcoming. And at least you have something in common to talk about initially!